This is our first product from the Russian StereoPravda company, so would like to write something about their origin and philosophy:
“There is a set of advantages that have to do with material resources, and there is a set that have to do with the absence of material resources – and the reason underdogs win as often as they do is that the latter is sometimes every bit the equal of the former”.
Malcolm Gladwell, “David and Goliath”.
Misha Kucherenko has been a well known figure in the Russian audiophile circles since 1993 when he co-founded the first Russian real audiophile store called “The Purple Legion”.
Through its history “PL” has been distributing in Russia the products from some of the most respected audiophile brands, including Apogee Acoustics, Krell, Audio Research Corporation, Magnepan, Klipsch, Kimber Kable, MSB, Genesis Louspeakers, Stereovox, Manley Labs, Grado, etc.
In 2002 Misha left “The Purple Legion” to devote his passion and energy to a new company that was called “StereoPravda”. His close relationship with his manufacturing partners lead to transition of most of them for the distribution of their products in Russia from “Purple Legion” to the new company.
Misha is also well known for his independent audio journalistic effort. Despite his unconventional views, for the last 20 years he published more than a hundred of articles and reports in various Russian magazines, including “Audiomagazine”, “Salon AV”, “Class A”, “Art Electronics”, etc. Since 2013 his monthly “Personal Opinion” column on one of the most popular Internet audio forum soundex.ru was read by many thousands of Russian audiophiles. Misha’s journalistic effort culminated in a long interview regarding portable audio, in general, and StereoPravda line of products, in particular, which he gave to a well known American “Widescreen Review” (August magazine called 2015, #198).
As a hard core audiophile and jet set travelling audio journalist for many years he’s been seeing inevitable changes coming to the audiophile hobby. Looking at the progress in various relevant technologies vs stale set of audiophile dogmas brought him a new vision: The Portable High End Audio.
To him, what matters is not a type of a no-holds-barred audio system- be it a home system or a portable one – what does matter is the initial purity of its creator’s intentions and the degree of their realization.
From his stand point and the background he’s not being seeing any adequate audio quality portable propositions coming from “The Big Boys”, so, eventually, capitalizing on his hard-earned reputation, he decided to fill the gap with his own line of products bearing the StereoPravda name.
At this time, the line consists of four In-the-Ear Monitors: SPearphone SB-5, SPearphone SB-6, SPearphone SB-7, SPearphone SB-7A, and also one dedicated portable IEM DAC/Tone Control/two-way differential amplifier to be used with the latter IEM model.
The IEMs are designed by Misha himself, the dedicated DACCA unit is designed by Alexey Malanin, who’s been Misha’s close associate for more than two decades. All these products are result of many years spent on their R&D.
StereoPravda products are 100% hand crafted and individually thoroughly tested.
Misha’s intention with this line is to carry the audiophile torch through High End Audio’s current “neutral zone” to its new incarnation.
And to pass this torch of true values to a new generation of audiophiles.
I am not affiliated with the company and all observations and opinions will be only my own. Would like to thanks “Big Misha” for sending me this unit giving me the opportunity to experience such an audiophile and pure sound.
PRICE: 2500 USD
OFFICIAL SITE : http://www.stereopravda.com/products/5/33/
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/spearphone/?ref=br_rs
PACKAGING: SB7 will arrive in a very unique packaging, I would say with a very Russian style. There aren’t a lot of accessories, just some sheets and cards that show the frequency response of the SB7 and some fit tips, you will find a soft pouch to bring your IEM on the go( there aren’t replaceable tips, since the SB7 works only with the mounted ones out of the box).
Build quality is premium, with great attention to details. It’s strange and singular shape is strictly connected to the sound quality. This SB7 was projected not like other common universal IEMs, indeed it fits more like a custom one( reatching the second bend ear canal, not only will give you better isolation, but overall a better perceived sound).
This IEM is not so easy to use, for this, if you are planning to buy one I truly suggest you to follow these guidelines on their site:
SOME FIT TIPS AND SOME INFO ABOUT THE CABLE:
“Each pair of our IEMs (In-The-Ear-Monitors) undergoes an extended audition to make sure that it is 100% perfect. The cable for the StereoPravda SPearphone SB-6 and SB-7/7A is crafted (almost) by hand in his own workshop by our American partner and close friend cable “guru” Chris Sommovigo (of Stereolab). The cable for the StereoPravda SPearphone SB-5 is a generic cable, but which we picked up, after extended auditions of numerous candidates, as the best “bang for a buck” performer.
The mini-jack connector used for the SB-6 and the SB-7/7A is the best one we have ever auditioned.
The mini-jack connector for the SB-5 is the one supplied with the generic cable.
Here are some basic hints about inserting and wearing our StereoPravda SPearphones family of the IEMs:
For INSERTING please, see the picture attached:
- Put the connecting cable behind your neck with its split
closer to the right ear.
For mobile convenience, fasten it with the clip to your collar (the clip positioning can be changed along the cable’s length to adjust each channel’ corresponding extensions).
As this AUDIOPHILE cable is relatively fragile, we would recommend you to “think twice” before making any adjustments, as the coils of the wire would not completely return to the straight shape after twisting.
Wrap the cables around your ear (see the attached picture).
- With the connecting wire pointing upwards and slightly in front of you (see the attched picture), slowly insert an IEM as deep as possible(it’s supposed to stop at some
depth, depending on the size of your ear channel). Alternatively, a sharp pain should stop you. Relative unease is a normal feeling while this first undertaking.
- When stopped, slightly twist the earphone around, pushing slightly in and out in the ear channel UNTIL YOU FEEL THE SAME EAR CHANNEL ACOUSTIC ISOLATION in each ear.
That is when you pronounce “m-m-m-” or “ah-ah-ah-” sounds, it’s indicated by THE SAME response in both of your sealed ears.
Hopefully, you’ll reach the ear channel isolation with no pain or inconvenience.
The isolation is the key to good sound. Without it the excellent sound is impossible with our designs. So, spend some time making sure you’re obtaining the ear channel isolation, and don’t even try to evaluate the sonic qualities of our products without reaching it.
We are quick to admit that our products are not for everyone, their appeal is limited by the variance in human ear channel anatomy.
So, please, cross your fingers that you’ll pass the admission test!
Otherwise, if your ear channel is too small or a quirky-shaped one, and the use of our products is prohibited by an intolerantly high level of discomfort, we’re very sorry, and are honestly wishing you all the best in your future sonic endeavors!
You can return our product for a full return (please, see our return policy on our website).
- RE-WRAP THE CONNECTING CABLE AROUND YOUR EAR (like in
the attached picture). This is important, as the cable, while moving, can constantly twist the IEM out of its correct positioning, leading to the “leakage of isolation”.
- If necessary, slightly RE-POSITION the IEM within your ear channel (please, see point 3. above).
So, while moving your head, the ear channel is CONSTANTLY isolated.
Please, make sure that the connectinng cable is wrapped around your ear and SLIGHTLY TIGHTENED around it to make sure that it’ll stay in its place!
The physical design of our SPearphone line is optimized for a CONSTANT (despite on the head movent) level of such isolation in an appropriately (for each model)-sized ear channel.
- You’re done.
- We recommend to SLIGHTLY change the moving collar clip/R/L cables’ splitting point of positioning on the cable after each use. This procedure would prevent the breakage of the small cable conductors inside at this point of juncture”.
SOUND: this SB7 is not easy to review, since its sound depends mostly on how good the fit will be. I spent two weeks to find out the best way to use them( my ear canal is a bit small, so required a bit of time to adjust to the singular shape of SB7). Once, found the perfect fit, I enjoyed not only a great isolation, but most important thing a truly audiophile sound. The SB7 is capable to reproduce a great timbre and tonality with extreme soundstage accuracy. This IEM stays on the neutral side, leaning a bit on the bright one, to assure great definition, clarity and airy sound. The reproduction is on top levels and for sure, among the best one I have ever tested. The imperative for the SB7 is to sound neutral, pure without any fun and artificial embellishment.
Bass is on the neutral side, with great impact and decay. It never warms the scene and most important thing, never covers the midrange. Sub-bass, if you will find a perfect fit and good amplification, is very satisfying, with the right amount of punch and speed. Overall, bass response is natural and well controlled, with great accuracy and definition.
Due to its neutral/bright sound signature the SB7 is a great performer with female voices. Listening to LanaDelRey or Nora Jones on this IEM will be a pleasure for your ears.
Treble response is surely a strong point for this IEM, very defined with plenty of resolution and sparkles, but never sounding too hot and harsh. The overall treble response helps to give a very spacious and airy sound. I truly suggest to pair this SB7 with a more musical and warm player, cause with a reference one, treble can be a bit too much sharp.
Soundstage is great, very wide and holographic. Obviously, the final result will depend by the source and the player, for example with my ak Kann soundstage is more holographic than my Opus1s.
The SB7 is quite easy to drive, and can give you a very good sound just out of common DAPs like Opus and Astell&Kern, but i truly suggest you to pair with a good Desktop DAC/AMP to reach a better tonal balance and more immersive soundstage.
COMPARISONS:
SB7 VS AROMA AUDIO YAO: these IEMs are one of the best I have ever tested, they have totally different sound signature and approach to music, but both of them performs at really high levels. Yao is more on the warmer side, with a more relaxed and romantic sound. Yao has more mid-bass quantity and overall a more organic voice reproduction. SB7 has better resolution and a more airy sound, with more sparkles, but is less forgiving with low quality tracks. Soundstage is on par, with good separation on both of these IEMs, but SB7 is capable to portray a more holographic stage around you.
Yao is more easy to drive, on the other side the SB7 needs a better amplification to really shine.
SB7 VS RHAPSODIO GALAXY INFINITY: SB7 has better resolution and more convincing tonality and timbre. Bass has better impact and decay on the SB7. Due to the bright signature of the Stereo Pravda IEM, sound is less forgiving with bad players and low quality tracks.
CONCLUSION:
I really loved this SB7 for its pure and audiophile reproduction, but the comfort was not so immediate, at least for my small ear-canal. The singular shape of this IEM is strictly connected to its great sound qualities, but if Misha is able to produce a more comfortable body, with still this top level sound, will easily compete with all the top players out there.
The SB7 is not an IEM for everyone, and StereoPravda knows it, for this I really hope you can audition it by yourself before buying it, cause the overall final result will depend only by the fit you will be able to find.
PROS:
one of the most transparent and natural sound i have ever heard
Female voices
Very holographic soundstage
CONS:
not much comfortable for my small ear canals
cable not easy to use on the go
SPECS:
NON-user replacable one size-fits all universal silicon tip;
– SEVEN Balanced Armature drivers per channel, all drivers share the same axis;
– custom Pravda32 connecting cable specially designed for this model by Chris Sommovigo;
– audiophile-grade matching resistors by Vishay;
– mini-jack’s TRS-part by Furutech;
– impedance: 15 Ohms;
– the connecting cable’s length (left earphone to the mini-jack connector): 1.2 meters.
SIMPLY AUDIOPHILE 